Hen Hud Reaches Settlement Agreement with Teacher Aides, Custodians, Chauffeurs

This is a press release from the Hendrick Hudson School District.

The Hendrick Hudson School District is pleased to announce settlement agreements have been reached between the district and the collective bargaining units representing the district’s Teacher Aides, Teaching Assistants and Monitors (TAMA) and Custodians and Chauffeurs (CSEA). The Board of Education voted to accept the new contracts on March 28.

These are the first contracts settled for the Hendrick Hudson School District since the implementation of the New York State Property Tax Cap. According to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel McCann, “These agreements recognize the economic realities evident throughout New York State and the challenges publicly financed organizations are facing as a result of the tax cap and a decline in revenues.”

As part of the new three year agreement, TAMA members have agreed to 0% raises for each of the three years of the contract. Additionally, members have agreed to a freeze in their step increases during the second year of the contract. Members have also agreed to freeze their health insurance contribution rate.

“I believe this agreement demonstrates the effectiveness and the fairness of the collective bargaining process,” said Carol Flynn, President of the Hendrick Hudson Teacher Aide and Monitor Association.

Members of the district’s CSEA unit, which represents custodians and chauffeurs, have agreed to a salary freeze for the first two years of their contract and members will forgo step increases for two years. In the 3rd and 4th years, members will receive a 1.9% increase. Additionally, members have also agreed to contribute more towards their health insurance, with their contributions rising from 11.5% in 2012 to 13.5% at the end of the contact in 2016.

On the contract settlement, CSEA President Dave Travis said, “We did what we had to do to help the district through a difficult financial time.”

“We are very appreciative of the TAMA and CSEA members for ratifying these contracts. They will provide for the long term financial stability of our schools while preserving programs,” remarked Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel T. McCann. “These agreements are a testament to theprofessionalism of these units and an acknowledgement of the limitations the tax cap is placing on our schools.”

“The members who comprise these groups are some of the hardest working people in our school district and are fundamental to the success of our students and our schools,” said School Board President Marion Walsh.

“Both of these units have demonstrated remarkable resolve and leadership throughout the negotiation process. We are very appreciative of the leadership demonstrated by TAMA and CSEA and their members in accepting this agreement and allowing us to put this contract to rest prior to its expiration at the end of June,” concluded McCann.

The new TAMA agreement will be in effect from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015, while the CSEA contract will run through June 30, 2016.